rest and play a couple of months, and
then come back better than ever. No, let's get a church out there and
stay forever. That will be Safety First. Isn't it grand we have that
money in the bank, David? Think how solemn it would be now if we were
clear broke, as we were before we decided to economize and start a
bank-account."

David nodded, smiling, but the smile was grave. The little
bank-account was very fine, but to David, lying there with the wreck of
his life about him, the outlook was solemn in spite of it.

CHAPTER IX

UPHEAVAL

"Forty-eight, forty-nine, fifty, fifty-one, fifty-two,
fifty-three,--for goodness' sake!--fifty-four, fifty-five." Carol
looked helplessly at her dusty hands and mopped her face desperately
with her forearm.

David, watching her from the bed in the adjoining room, gave way to
silent laughter, and she resumed her solemn count.

"Forty-six, forty--"

"Fifty-six," he called. "Don't try any trickery on me."

"Fifty-six, fifty-seven, fifty-eight, fifty-nine, sixty." She sighed
audibly. "Sixty-one, sixty-two, sixty-three, sixty-four--sixty-four
perfectly fresh eggs," she announced, turning to the doorway and
frowning at her husband, who still laughed. "Sixty-four perfectly
fresh eggs, all laid yesterday."

"Now, I give you fair warning, my dear, I am no cold storage plant, and
you can't make me absorb any sixty-four egg-nogs daily just to even up
the demand with the supply. I drank seven yesterday, but this is too
much. You must seek another warehouse."

"You are very clever and facetious, Davie, really quite entertaining.
But what am I to do with sixty-four fresh eggs?"

"And I may as well confess frankly that I consider a minister's wife
distinctly out of her sphere when she tries to corner the fresh egg
market, particularly at the present price of existence. It isn't
scriptural. It isn't orthodox. I am surprised at you, Carol. It must
be some more Methodism cropping out. I never knew a Presbyterian to do
it."

"And as for milk--"

"There you go again,--milk. Worse and worse. Yesterday I had milk
toast, and milk custard, and fresh milk, and buttermilk. And here you
come at me again first thing to-day. Milk!"

"Seven whole quarts have arrived this morning,--bless their darling old
hearts."

"The cows?"

"The parishioners," Carol explained patiently. "Ever since the doctor
said fresh milk and eggs, we've been flooded with milk and--"

"Pelt